Loving Care Cottages

What Is A Personal Care Home?

What Is A Personal Care Home?

A Personal Care Home has essentially the same state license as the majority of assisted living and memory care facilities, except it revolves around a smaller home-like environment (usually up to 16 people), provides more personal care and attention, and are usually equal or lower in cost to that of major national assisted living facility chains.

Not all Personal Care Homes are created equal. Some Personal Care Homes have taken only the minimum steps required by local and state regulations to care for seniors. Ask the facility if they have references or stories of their patients and how they satisfied their end customer’s family.

Remember: The outside appearance of a Personal Care Home should not be the only criteria for making your decision, tour the facility and see every floor. Ask to be shown not only an empty room, but also a current customer’s room. Good facilities keep their patients’ rooms tidy, clean, and fresh.

Although most Personal Care Homes do not provide an excess lineup of day-to-day activities, many do provide skilled care that usually can be compared better to that of a Skilled Nursing Facility and in a cozy home-like environment.

Question the caregivers and nurses on their background and experience. Though some Personal Care Homes are very elegant and luxurious, the quality of the care will determine if your loved-one will be comfortable and happy.

Corey Tanase, VP of Sales for Loving Care Cottages, describes your investigation as the following, “You want to see a home that is not only luxurious and beautiful, but more importantly full of quality care and personal attention. If the Personal Care Home has delivered on this hard-to-find-aspect at an affordable rate, Move Fast! Those facilities do not stay empty long and often have a wait list. As I tell everyone who comes to visit us, ‘ Dont be Shy, Be Observant! ‘ ”

Do your best to keep the following criteria in mind as you tour your prospective Personal Care Home:

— What is the experience of the owners and staff member who will work most closely with your family member? Ask for patient references and stories of difficult situations.

— Will it be easy to communicate with the staff?

— What is the staff-to-resident ratio?

— Are the caregivers live-in or do they work in shifts? Is it a 24 hour care facility?

— Is there an licensed Registered Nurse on-site at all times? If not, is there an RN on call?

— Are there hospital beds with rails to prevent falls?

The best answers to these questions depends on the specific status and care required by your loved one. For example, some residents will need an overnight care member to take care of them in case of an emergency or during times when they cannot sleep.

When touring, ask yourself, ‘would I like to live here?’ says Profira Tanase, RN for Loving Care Cottages. Try to watch residents in action with nurses or caregivers. Are they attentive? Do they respond to resident requests?

Here are some additional questions to aware of as you make your final selection of a Personal Care Home:

— How are health issues managed, including the activities of daily living, such as bathing and toileting?

— Does the staff administer medications?

— Does the home provide different meal options for your loved ones tastes?

— How much is the monthly rate, including all the fees?

Before choosing a residential care home, get all your questions answered by the staff or owner. Make sure all of your questions are answered and do not be embarrassed to ask anything concerning ‘what-if’ situations. The Personal Care Home is there to serve your loved one and provide you peace of mind that your loved one is being cared for appropriately.